Garden yields produce and blessings

The Rev. Tammy Talbert (left), pastor of the combined congregations of First United Methodist Church and Canaan United Methodist Church in Denton, stands with Debby Myers, one of the church volunteers, at the church's community garden on South Main Street in Denton.

Published: Friday, July 26, 2013 at 11:45 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, July 26, 2013 at 7:56 a.m.

The blessings are growing like weeds in a garden.

And in this half-acre plot you’ll find the former flourishing and the latter nearly nil. It’s a labor of love, in fact, that is producing more than tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, peppers, green beans and cantaloupes.

It’s called “The Community Garden,” a combined effort of First United Methodist and Canaan United Methodist churches in Denton, where the harvest is placed by the roadside and given to anyone who stops by.

“Not only is the garden providing fresh produce for those who don’t have enough or for those who don’t have a garden of their own, but people have started bringing excess produce from their own gardens to be given away at the stand ... people from our two churches as well as people from the community,” relates the Rev. Tammy Talbert, who is pastor of both churches, which have combined congregations.

From the unique outreach there have been numerous heart-rendering responses, including a message scribbled on a sign at the garden that indicates everything is free: “Thank you for doing good deeds for others god bless you.”

“Some people have taken produce to shut-in neighbors. We met one woman enjoying the produce who was on dialysis and unable to have a garden of her own. Another man stopping by for produce had recently had back surgery, had been out of work and had four children to feed. For him the garden was a blessing,” says Talbert, whose husband David is the pastor at Bethany United Methodist in Lexington.

The genesis of the garden goes back to an idea credited to church member Eddie Gallimore. “He cast a vision that would further unite the combined congregations ... that would make use of an an unused piece of property owned by First Church, and that would meet the needs of those in the community who could benefit from free, fresh garden produce,” Talbert relates.

Church members began clearing rocks from the garden plot in mid-April. About 20 youths and adults were on hand to lend their muscles, equipment and know-how to the project. “Others supported the effort with their prayers and financial gifts.” Talbert said.

Afterward, members of the combined congregations converged every Tuesday and Thursday to weed and tend the garden.

An abundance of rain helped make the bounty plentiful.

“The the produce is getting gone. Nothing is being wasted or rotting in the sun,” says Talbert.

Recently church members decided to see how fast the produce was disappearing.

“By 8:30 a.m. a bucket of beans, a bucket of cucumbers, seven squash and 22 peppers had been picked by church volunteers. By 11 a.m., six peppers were all that remained on the stand. This is what’s happening. This is what the churches have started. This is how God is using us to provide abundantly for others,” Talbert said.

“And what we are discovering first hand is that when we share, there is a power at work that is bigger than us because sharing is of God. And if we want to know and experience and unleash that power, all we have to do is share because God is all about abundance.”

Talbert reports the garden has neared the end of its production for the season.

Dwight Davis can be reached at 249-3981, ext, 226 or at dwight.davis@the-dispatch.com.

<p>The blessings are growing like weeds in a garden.</p><p>And in this half-acre plot you'll find the former flourishing and the latter nearly nil. It's a labor of love, in fact, that is producing more than tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, peppers, green beans and cantaloupes.</p><p>It's called “The Community Garden,” a combined effort of First United Methodist and Canaan United Methodist churches in Denton, where the harvest is placed by the roadside and given to anyone who stops by.</p><p>“Not only is the garden providing fresh produce for those who don't have enough or for those who don't have a garden of their own, but people have started bringing excess produce from their own gardens to be given away at the stand ... people from our two churches as well as people from the community,” relates the Rev. Tammy Talbert, who is pastor of both churches, which have combined congregations.</p><p>From the unique outreach there have been numerous heart-rendering responses, including a message scribbled on a sign at the garden that indicates everything is free: “Thank you for doing good deeds for others god bless you.”</p><p>“Some people have taken produce to shut-in neighbors. We met one woman enjoying the produce who was on dialysis and unable to have a garden of her own. Another man stopping by for produce had recently had back surgery, had been out of work and had four children to feed. For him the garden was a blessing,” says Talbert, whose husband David is the pastor at Bethany United Methodist in Lexington.</p><p>The genesis of the garden goes back to an idea credited to church member Eddie Gallimore. “He cast a vision that would further unite the combined congregations ... that would make use of an an unused piece of property owned by First Church, and that would meet the needs of those in the community who could benefit from free, fresh garden produce,” Talbert relates.</p><p>Church members began clearing rocks from the garden plot in mid-April. About 20 youths and adults were on hand to lend their muscles, equipment and know-how to the project. “Others supported the effort with their prayers and financial gifts.” Talbert said.</p><p>Afterward, members of the combined congregations converged every Tuesday and Thursday to weed and tend the garden.</p><p>An abundance of rain helped make the bounty plentiful.</p><p>“The the produce is getting gone. Nothing is being wasted or rotting in the sun,” says Talbert. </p><p>Recently church members decided to see how fast the produce was disappearing. </p><p>“By 8:30 a.m. a bucket of beans, a bucket of cucumbers, seven squash and 22 peppers had been picked by church volunteers. By 11 a.m., six peppers were all that remained on the stand. This is what's happening. This is what the churches have started. This is how God is using us to provide abundantly for others,” Talbert said.</p><p>“And what we are discovering first hand is that when we share, there is a power at work that is bigger than us because sharing is of God. And if we want to know and experience and unleash that power, all we have to do is share because God is all about abundance.”</p><p>Talbert reports the garden has neared the end of its production for the season.</p><p>Dwight Davis can be reached at 249-3981, ext, 226 or at dwight.davis@the-dispatch.com.</p>